The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd Centenary Edition. With a Memoir of the Author, by the Rev. Thomas Thomson ... Poems and Life. With Many Illustrative Engravings [by James Hogg] |
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 | The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd |  |
“Bring forth these champions of your land,
That mine may meet them brand to brand:
I dare them; if that will not do,
I'll fight the cravens one to two:
Thou hast my answer—speed thee hence
And for thy nation's best defence
Be thou prepared; for if the queen
To grace the combat is not seen,
I swear by Odin's warlike name,
And Thor's, the god of storm and flame,
No lists shall be, nor warrior boast;
I'll pour my vengeance on your host,
And neither leave you root nor stem,
Memorial, name, nor diadem.”
That mine may meet them brand to brand:
I dare them; if that will not do,
I'll fight the cravens one to two:
Thou hast my answer—speed thee hence
And for thy nation's best defence
Be thou prepared; for if the queen
To grace the combat is not seen,
I swear by Odin's warlike name,
And Thor's, the god of storm and flame,
No lists shall be, nor warrior boast;
I'll pour my vengeance on your host,
And neither leave you root nor stem,
Memorial, name, nor diadem.”
| The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd | |